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A Concert from Bruges on Baroque&Before

Baroque&Before, Thursday at 10:00 PM

Early music is in demand; and WFMT’s Candice Agree stepped up to answer the calling with Baroque&Before. Like many WFMT programs, Candice’s shows offer a wide swath of composers and styles, but there’s one component that’s unique to Baroque&Before: through a special partnership with the European Broadcasting Union, Candice features concert material from many of the world’s music capitals, as well as festivals from the remote and scenic getaways. This week’s performances come to us from Bruges, Belgium.

Picturesque canals crisscross the city of Bruges, connecting to the North Sea. The canals now support a robust tourist industry, though the natural and man-made waterways once served as a center for shipping, trade, and banking. The economy of Bruges declined during the 16th century when one of the primary canals filled with silt. The shipping business shifted east to Antwerp. More recently, however, the upgraded port at Bruges-Zeebrugge has become one of the fastest growing in Europe.

In 2002 the city of Bruges commissioned a new performing arts complex. Called the Concertgebouw Bruges, the contemporary design sports a terracotta exterior that mirrors the rooftops of the old city.